Audis have been a dominant force in the luxury car industry for the last few decades, and they have not slowed down. In fact, the brand has endeared itself to owners for quality and reliability.

Lately, the company has forged forward into the realm of hybrid vehicles. The popular and futuristic Audi e-tron is a popular choice for great driving while being earth conscious. While caring for the environment and costs of ownership, it cannot be forgotten that a hybrid comes with its own unique cares and maintenance requirements as well.

As with any aspect of maintenance, anticipating problems and keeping up routine work is safer and less expensive than waiting until something is already worn out and broken. This often leads to damage to other parts of the vehicle. There are some common issues and routine services to keep your luxury vehicle on the road and out of the shop.

With car technology rapidly advancing, most owners probably imagine their biggest issues with owning a hybrid will be in complex battery systems or new cutting edge computer chips. These two ultimately do require attention, but you will not get far ignoring those issues that every vehicle has always experienced.

• Tires: A simple blend of inspection by certified professionals and some rough guidelines by mileage will keep your tires up to snuff for keeping your vehicle on the road, regardless of driving conditions. Obviously there will be some variance based on location, so these truly should be treated as guidelines and a professional’s judgment is the deciding voice in the matter. Typically, a change after the first year of driving or ten thousand miles (whichever comes first), followed by a two year/twenty thousand mile schedule is a good base to work from.
• Battery: Drivers are often surprised to find out that besides the large, futuristic bank of batteries unique to hybrid vehicles, there is still a standard car battery typically relied on for initially starting up. Similar to the tire schedule, the battery can be checked roughly every two years or twenty thousand miles, but any technician with the car and owners best interest in mind will likely check this quickly while performing other routine tasks at a more frequent interval.
• Brake Fluid: As a part that is heavily dependent on maintaining the correct levels and pressure within a system, brake fluid should be changed at a minimum of every two years, regardless of mileage. Similar to the battery, this change is an opportunity for mechanics to inspect the system as a whole and catch any leaks or damage before reaching any sort of system failure.
• Engine Oil/Oil Filter: This is thankfully the exact same schedule as tires, and therefore, easier to remember. Using the correct oil and filters, these can each be changed after the first year or ten thousand miles, and every two years or twenty thousand miles after that. Same as the tires, a certified technician should be checking the oil more frequently than this and making a professional recommendation as these are just initial guidelines.
• Brakes: While brake fluid is important, the state of your car’s brake rotors and pads is absolutely vital to safe driving. The same general guideline is offered here, and the entire system should be looked at to replace pads every year or ten thousand miles. Unlike most other parts on your vehicle, it truly is not an option to leave the brake system until it is too late. Have it checked early, have it checked often, and drive easy knowing you can enjoy a car free of problems.

Masters European & Japanese Auto Repair

It’s important to remember that regular maintenance is always less expensive than emergency repairs down the road. Having your Audi regularly serviced by a certified technician will give you peace of mind and save money in the long run.

We specialize in German makes and models and are dedicated to providing you with quality service from our highly-trained technicians using state-of-the-art technology and the most up-to-date and manufacturer-recommended tools. Call us or stop by if you are in or near Corte Madera, Larkspur, Sausalito, Tiburon, or the Mill Valley, CA. We look forward to earning your business.

* Audi e-tron Charging image credit goes to: supergenijalac.